Quick and Easy Buying Guide

Carat weight: 1 carat = 200 milligrams = 6.5 mm diameter. Doubling weight doesn't double diameter.

Diamond clarity: FL/IF/VVS/VS = super expensive, near perfect. SI = best value if you can check a photo for obvious inclusions (defects).

 

Color: D-G = colorless, expensive, only if you have money to burn. H-J = best value. Can go lower in gold metal settings than white metal.

Cut: Better cut ratings let more light into a diamond, making it sparkle more. Very important property, don't skimp here.

Set a budget and minimum cut (Premium). Go J color for gold and I/H for white metals. Go searching for SI1/SI2 clarity diamonds at James Allen. Pick a diamond with small/no inclusions. Choose a ring setting and buy it risk-free (60-day returns).

Princess Shape, 0.37 Carat Diamond Size on Hand

Carat weight does not mean a lot until you witness it in person - this article provides a hand as "context" to simulate the apparent size of a 0.37 carat weight diamond of princess shape. The exact size of a 0.37 carat weight princess shape diamond depends on other factors such as cut, but will typically be around 4.4 mm along one of the straight edges of the diamond.

A good tip to follow is to use pictures like this one to initially narrow down your size range; then you can go into stores and actually try a few different sized princess shape diamond rings on, armed with this prior knowledge. Think about the ratio between the width and length of a finger - this ratio will affect how large and suitable a diamond looks when it is slipped in a ring onto the hand.

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Later after the diamond is purchased, it's likely you may be pleasantly surprised because the diamond appears larger on a woman's hand than you first thought, compared with when seen in isolation.